• About the Study
• Methodology
• Key Findings
• Who We Serve
• How We Serve
  • Agency Profiles
    • Participating Programs
    • Number of Programs
    • Agencies Operating Various Programs
    • Length of Operation
    • Other Services
    • Agency Type
    • Programs Service Selected Clients
    • Change in Number of Clients
    • Seasonality
  • Agency Food Services
  • Agency Capacity
  • Agency Resources
  • Food Banks
• Local Picture
• Snapshot Comparisons
• Media Center

Participating Programs (10.1)

The agency survey questionnaire was sent to 43,141 agencies affiliated with the A2H National Network.  Each agency was asked to provide detailed information about one of each type of emergency food programs it operates (such as one pantry, one kitchen, and one shelter).  Agencies operating nonemergency food programs only (referred to as “other programs”) were asked to answer several general questions only.

Of the agencies that received the questionnaire, 31,111 agencies completed the survey.  Among those that completed the survey, 21,834 operate one or more emergency programs, and the remaining agencies operate other nonemergency food programs.  Those 31,111 responding agencies reported on 54,464 1 programs, of which 47.1% are emergency food programs.  Table 10.1.1 shows the breakdown of the participating agencies by the type of program they operate.

Table 10.1.1
PROGRAMS REPORTED ON BY PARTICIPATING AGENCIES, BY PROGRAM TYPE

Program Type	Number	Unweighted Percentage	Unweighted Percentage Excluding “Other” Type
Pantry	18,436	33.8%	71.9%
Kitchen	4,514	8.3%	17.6%
Shelter	2,704	5.0%	10.5%
Other a	28,810	52.9%	n.a.
TOTAL b	54,464	100.0%	100.0%

a Other programs refer to nonemergency food programs.  They are programs that have a primary purpose other than emergency food distribution but also distribute food.  Examples include day care programs, senior congregate-feeding programs, and summer camps.

b This is the number of programs about which agencies provide detailed or some information.  The total number of programs operated by these agencies is larger.

n.a. = not applicable.

Among the total of 54,464 programs reported on by the agencies, 33.8% are pantries, 8.3% are kitchens, and 5.0% are shelters.  The remaining 52.9% are other nonemergency food programs, such as child day care, senior-congregate feeding programs, and summer camps.

Excluding other nonemergency food programs makes the percentage breakdown 71.9% pantries, 17.6% kitchens, and 10.5% shelters.

1 There are more programs than agencies, because agencies often run two or more programs of different types.